Upland birds North Dakota

[Happy Gilmore]

Been out working in Eastern Montana and North Dakota a bit the last three weeks. A lot of off the beaten path jobsites from Sidney, Mt to Fargo, ND. Spent evenings driving looking for public areas to hunt for future adventures.

Last three days in and around the North Dakota Grasslands. Saw the most birds in East Montana hands down. Grasslands of NoDak I found very disappointing even around what looked like amazing areas on some private ranches where we have work.

I saw bird counts in Montana that had big, mature ring necks like no other place. Hunted South Dakota a few years back and the birds I saw in Montana this year had it covered hands down. Was pretty surprised. Tonight I went into the Teddy Roosevelt grasslands area. Saw a couple clusters of young looking birds. Saw signs for bighorn sheep but didn't see anything with four legs except dead in the ditch.

There's my scouting report- skip west NoDak and hunt East Montana.

[ribka]

Excellent report
Thanks for taking time to post

[Forks]

Thanks for the report Happy. I'm leaving soon for a 3 week trip to NE MT to chase roosters, huns and chickens.

[skinzner]

Like to hear that, leaving friday morning for a 9 day trip  to Froid MT.

[boneaddict]

Thanks for the post Happy.   I am glad you are getting some fresh air over there.

[Shannon]

I'm heading over on the 23rd. Have fun for those of you that beat me there!

[shootem]

Great to hear a report from someone who was there.

[eastsidemallard74]

Heading to central nd in 2 1/2 weeks for our yearly trip. 8 of us limit in 4 day's. Insane the difference in hunting!

[Bluemoon]

Happy was just fooling with all of you,  There are no birds over here!!
Paul you should be ashamed of yourself for getting everyone excited over nothing .
If you come back across the "Highline" give me a shout and lets go chase some of those nonexistent birds you are talking about...
There is always room for you my friend...

[Happy Gilmore]

I very well could be a result of the thousands of people flooded the area to work. I'm sure roughnecks and truck drivers are the types who also like to hunt  a bit? I expected it to be crazy busy up there but, getting there and seeing the amount of construction, trucks and earthmoving iron was crazy. The man camps ranged from single wide new trailer parks to apartment complex barrack style to POS camper trailers parked 6' apart covering 20 acre plots. These man camps were scattered from Williston all the way down to Dickinson. Crazy truck traffic on country roads all the way and everywhere in between. Not to discount the high way system upgrades have everything torn apart from point to point.

[jetjockey]

Bird numbers look good all over the Midwest this year .  We saw a ton of birds outside Winner SD at my trainers summer camp, and he said the bob white numbers are trough the roof where he lives in Eastern NE.  We skipped SD pheasant hunting the last two years because the numbers had dropped so much, but it was killing me not to hunt the Midwest this year with the bird reports.  So we are going to try and put together a NE quail hunt sometime in Dec or Jan.  Now I just have to get the OK from the wife.  With a tentative trip to South Africa to bird hunt planned in June, my hall passes my be limited.

[Happy Gilmore]

Wouldn't be called hunting if you didn't have to hunt. My trip to SoDak was said to be the worst numbers in history. Took about a couple hours a day to limit if that. Pretty much like shooting fish in a barrel.

[The Real Sisu]

Good report on Montana. Glad to see numbers going up again. I sent you a PM

[Quackwhacker]

Bird numbers seem to be a little lower than years past. A buddy and I got our limits in ND and MT today but we had to work for them. Great weather though.

[NWTFhunter]

Happy, there are lots of birds here in Nd. You were not in the right areas I think. If you are around willy on a sat give me a shout.